At its Nov. 8 meeting, the Forest Preserve Board of directors approved six grants totaling $132,110. With this latest round, the Foundation’s total awards for 2019 comes to nearly half a million dollars. The grants will continue Foundation support for the Conservation Corps/Forest Preserve Experience program and ecological restoration in Cranberry Slough and Cap Sauers […]
Theresa Salus and LeeAnn Tomas-Foster named to Foundation board of directors
The Forest Preserve Foundation is pleased to announce the addition of two new members to its board of directors, Theresa Salus and LeeAnn Tomas-Foster. Their nominations were approved at the Nov. 8 board of directors meeting. “On behalf of the board, I am pleased to welcome LeeAnn and Theresa to the Foundation’s leadership,” Board Chair […]
Walk through Cap Sauers highlights the success of restoration efforts
Forest Preserve Foundation board members, donors and guests pose after their hike through Cap Sauers Holding Preserve. Editor’s note: Earlier this year, the Foundation supported restoration efforts in Cap Sauers Holding Preserves with funds received from a generous anonymous donor. On Oct. 5, two Forest Preserve staff members led a walk through the Preserves to […]
Memorial bench honors Mom on the trail she loved so much
By Sarah Dennis Cycling on the North Branch Trail through the Forest Preserves of Cook County brought incredible joy to Beth Katsaros and me, her eldest daughter, during the summer of 1998. My mom and I were training for the six-day, 500-mile bike ride from Minneapolis/St. Paul to Chicago to raise money for organizations supporting […]
At the Foundation, we strive for equity in all that we do
As we recognize Cook County Racial Equity Week, I want to share how the Forest Preserve Foundation works to ensure a more equitable experience for all. Diversity, equity and inclusion are baked into the Foundation’s approach to grantmaking, a major distinction within the larger community of organizations that do conservation-related work. Throughout its history, the […]
2019 Conservation Cup exceeds goal, raises nearly $210,000
The board and staff of the Forest Preserve Foundation offers a hearty thank you to everyone, for their support of the 8th annual Conservation Cup! Because of the generosity of sponsors, board members, friends and supporters, we exceeded our goal again this year, raising a total of $206,000! This success is due to the hard work […]
Summer intern sees two sides of restoration work
By Jennifer Cronin My passion for the environment started in my high school environmental science class. I was blown away about the complexity of our Earth and how some of my actions harm it, without my even knowing it. That’s what inspired me to major in environmental science. And why I spent the summer supporting […]
New Nature Play, Treehouse welcome all to South Side’s Dan Ryan Woods
Under a cloudless sky on the last day of July, something special happened in Dan Ryan Woods. The Forest Preserves of Cook County, its partners and community members celebrated the opening of the new Nature Play and Treehouse on a site, located near the northeast corner of 87th Street and Western Avenue. The Forest Preserve […]
Foundation backers share stories about Forest Preserves at ‘Summer Soiree’
Anyone who appreciates the Forest Preserves of Cook County can share something about what makes them special. At the Foundation’s recent “Summer Soiree,” several speakers did just that. Board member Jeff Gray recalled kicking off summer with a ride along the “swatch of green” that is the North Branch Trail all the way to Lake […]
Spring Symposium showcased breadth of the Preserves
Thersa Salus, left to right, Anely Lopez, Nicholas Brown and Ambassador Fay Hartog-Levin. From one presentation that offered a broad view of what’s happening in the Forest Preserves to another that covered a variety of conservation projects, the Foundation’s Spring Symposium enlightened many on the Preserves’ value and significance. The symposium also underscored the various […]